(19)
(11) EP 0 541 375 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
06.10.1993 Bulletin 1993/40

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.05.1993 Bulletin 1993/19

(21) Application number: 92310137.2

(22) Date of filing: 05.11.1992
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G03G 15/02, G03G 15/08, G03G 15/16, G03G 21/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 06.11.1991 JP 289768/91

(71) Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 211 (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Nishio, Yukio
    Kurume-shi, Fukuoka 830 (JP)

(74) Representative: Rackham, Stephen Neil 
GILL JENNINGS & EVERY, Broadgate House, 7 Eldon Street
London EC2M 7LH
London EC2M 7LH (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Conductive foam rubber roller and an image formation apparatus using it


    (57) A conductive foam rubber roller (52) is used as a charging roller, developing roller, toner-removing roller, or transfer roller in an image formation apparatus such as an electro-photographic recording apparatus, and comprises a tubular roller element (52) made of a conductive foam rubber material and having a central bore defined by a solid skin layer (52b) having an electric resistivity considerably higher than that of a foam structure of the rubber element, and a conductive shaft (56) on which the roller element (52) is mounted and fixed. End sections of the skin layer are removed from the roller element such that the foam structure (52) thereof is in direct contact with the shaft (56) at end sections of the bore thereof. Alternatively, a conductive disc-like member (60) having a central opening (60a) formed therein is inserted onto the shaft (56) to be abutted against an end face of the roller element, whereby sufficient electric contact can be established between the roller element and the shaft.






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